Human bones found in northeast Guilford County

Published: Monday, December 31, 2012 at 05:37 PM.

GIBSONVILLE — Deer hunters on Monday stumbled upon a body — decomposed to the point where only bones remained — in northeastern Guilford County.

The adult’s body was found in the woods off Turner Smith Road, about a quarter-mile east of N.C. 61.

“It’d been down there a long time,” said Maj. Tom Shepherd of the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office.

He said the body was sent to the N.C. Medical Examiner’s Office in Chapel Hill for an autopsy. Shepherd said it was impossible to determine the identity or even the sex of the deceased. It was also impossible to tell if the person died of natural causes or as the result of foul play.

Shepherd said he didn’t know if the medical examiner would be able to determine a cause of death, though he said there’s a possibility “they may see something on the bones” that would help determine how the person died.

Shepherd said the bones were discovered about 9:30 a.m. They had been scattered by animals, he said, and officers spent most of the day reassembling them.

He said a resident of the area was reported missing about eight months ago. Shepherd said he doesn’t know if the bones are the remains of the missing person, but said the individual’s dental records have been sent to the medical examiner’s office for comparison.

GIBSONVILLE — Deer hunters on Monday stumbled upon a body — decomposed to the point where only bones remained — in northeastern Guilford County.

The adult’s body was found in the woods off Turner Smith Road, about a quarter-mile east of N.C. 61.

“It’d been down there a long time,” said Maj. Tom Shepherd of the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office.

He said the body was sent to the N.C. Medical Examiner’s Office in Chapel Hill for an autopsy. Shepherd said it was impossible to determine the identity or even the sex of the deceased. It was also impossible to tell if the person died of natural causes or as the result of foul play.

Shepherd said he didn’t know if the medical examiner would be able to determine a cause of death, though he said there’s a possibility “they may see something on the bones” that would help determine how the person died.

Shepherd said the bones were discovered about 9:30 a.m. They had been scattered by animals, he said, and officers spent most of the day reassembling them.

He said a resident of the area was reported missing about eight months ago. Shepherd said he doesn’t know if the bones are the remains of the missing person, but said the individual’s dental records have been sent to the medical examiner’s office for comparison.

“Hopefully we’ll know more after the autopsy,” Shepherd said.

He said the area where the body was discovered is heavily wooded and not far from a pond. The closest residence is about 300 yards from the site.